Pima County has increased the number of locations available for early voting ahead of the upcoming general election. Twelve new sites opened on Monday, bringing the total number of active early voting locations to sixteen. These sites will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 30. On the final day of early voting, October 30, the hours will extend until 7 p.m. to accommodate more voters.
The expansion of early voting sites comes as the county highlights the growing trend of voters casting their ballots before Election Day. According to data from the Pima County Recorder’s Office, nearly 85 percent of voters in the 2024 Presidential Election and 90 percent of those in the 2026 Primary Election chose to vote early. This shift underscores the importance of accessible voting options for the current general election.
Residents may vote in person at any of the sixteen early voting sites. Arizona law mandates that voters present a photo identification or two separate documents that display both the voter’s name and address. This requirement ensures that in-person voting remains secure and verifiable for all participants in the democratic process.
For those who have already received an early ballot by mail, there are multiple ways to return the completed envelope. Voters can send their ballots back via mail, use a secure drop box, or hand them in at an early voting site or a vote center. To ensure a ballot is counted, it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, which falls on Tuesday, November 3.
Standard drop-off procedures allow voters to return sealed, signed, and dated ballot affidavit envelopes for themselves and their household members at any early voting site during operating hours. No identification is required for this standard method. Once received, the Recorder’s Office will verify the signatures on the envelopes to confirm eligibility.
A new option provides an ID-verified drop-off process for voters who prefer an immediate check. At early voting sites, a voter can present their identification along with their sealed envelope. A poll worker will verify the identity, stamp the envelope as ID verified, and then send it to the elections department for tabulation. This specific option is available only for the voter’s own ballot and cannot be used for household members.
On Election Day, this ID-verified option will be available at all 126 Vote Centers across the county. In these locations, voters will sign the electronic pollbook and receive a printed receipt, providing further assurance that their vote has been recorded and processed correctly.
The Pima County Recorder’s Office recommends that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. Using the postage-paid return envelope is the suggested method for ensuring timely delivery. Additionally, the office maintains eight secure ballot drop boxes that are accessible 24 hours a day. These boxes will remain open until 7 p.m. on Election Day, offering a convenient late-night option for voters.
To further support residents in remote or specific communities, four VoteMobile locations will be open at designated times leading up to the election. The first location is the Marana Aquatic and Recreation Center at 13455 N Marana Main St., which will be open on October 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second site is the Robles Ranch Community Center at 16150 W Ajo Hwy., available on October 29 during the same hours.
The Tohono Plaza, also known as Bashas’ Plaza at 1 Indian Rte 19 in Sells, will host a VoteMobile unit on October 30 and 31. The final location is the Salazar-Ajo Library at 15 Plaza #179 in Ajo, which will be open on November 2. All mobile sites will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voters can also track the status of their ballots through the Recorder’s Office online to monitor their progress through the voting process.
